Clipboard Kings: Assessing The Backup QB Situations

We hear it every year at this time, the backup quarterback is one of the most important positions on the roster.  Whether it is or not is a debate for another time, but it’s under the microscope now more than ever as teams try to justify how many resources, or in some cases how few, they’ve committed to the position….and you hear reports of young QB’s who are just “killing it” in their mini-camps.

The position can either be rendered completely irrelevant: Jim Sorgi never getting his uniform dirty in meaningful situations backing up Peyton Manning from 2004 – 2010.  Or franchise altering: The Colts never addressing the position appropriately, team goes 2-14 without Manning in 2011, total housecleaning, first pick, Manning moves on, Andrew Luck now in place. 

I thought it would be interesting to take a look at every team’s backup situation.  These aren’t grades, just an overall look at the total sum of each team’s outlook if their starter were to go down.  I’ll consider the immediate situation and the longer-term picture.

I’ll go in order of my NFL Power Rankings 1.0, published May 10th.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS:

Starter: Tom Brady (13th year)

Projected Backup: Brian Hoyer (4th year).  Hoyer went undrafted out of Michigan State in 2009, but has gained a reputation as a quality young backup who may have the skills to be a starter, and could cash in as an unrestricted free agent after this season a la Matt Flynn.  He’s 6-2, 215 with above average athleticism and a decent arm.  Patriots coaches rave about his intelligence and their confidence in him should Brady go down again.  In limited action he’s completed 62% of his passes for 1 TD and 1 INT.

Projected 3rd QB: Ryan Mallett (2nd year): No question, there aren’t many third-string QB’s in the league who possess the upside of Mallett.  Well known as a top High School recruit and for his accomplishments playing under Bobby Petrino at Arkansas, Mallett fell to the third round in the 2011 draft due to character concerns and unsubstantiated rumors of drug use.  The Pats pounced on him when he slipped so far and he showed flashes of brilliance in the preseason.  Mallett is 6-6 and 238, and is notoriously slow afoot, another reason he fell out of favor with some NFL scouts.  Mallett had the best arm in the draft last year, Cam Newton included.  He can flat out spin the ball and there isn’t a throw he can’t make from the pocket.  The Patriots clearly don’t mind operating with a quarterback who can’t run, right?

Other contenders: None.  The Pats will surely invite some other arms to camp, but no other QB’s are currently listed on their roster.  That’s how strongly they feel about the two that they have in place.

Overall: If I WAS grading each team’s backup situation, this would clearly be a contender for the best.  Untested, but tons of upside and potential.  If Brady were to go down, Hoyer has 4 years in the system and would probably operate well enough for the Patriots to remain a contender.  Mallett presents an intriguing opportunity moving forward; he could fetch a draft pick if a QB-needy team comes calling, but more likely he’ll ascend to the backup spot if Hoyer moves on as a free agent next Spring.  He’s been a solid citizen during his time in the Northeast, and Belichick isn’t afraid to take a chance on someone with a spotty past.

As we move through this list, I think you’ll find it no coincidence that the league’s elite teams are also the ones who pay the closest attention to the position, even when they’re being led by elite QB’s as most good teams are.